(Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images)

The Washington Capitals enter the 2025-26 season aiming to build on their Eastern Conference-best record a year ago, while the Boston Bruins embark on a new era following their first playoff miss since 2016.

Though the two teams are largely projected to be at opposite ends of the standings, hope springs eternal when they clash Wednesday in the nation's capital.

Washington's roster has undergone little change since a second-round playoff exit last spring. Alex Ovechkin still leads the way, entering his 21st season sitting just three goals away from becoming the first 900-goal scorer in NHL history.

There are still milestones left for 'The Great 8' to chase, but there's plenty more to get reigning Jack Adams Award winner Spencer Carbery and the whole team going as well.

'I think it's just continuing to push the envelope,' Carbery said. 'I think we have a highly motivated group, not only as a team, but individually.

'And that's one of the main points ... to bring to the forefront, is we need to be trying to push to get to another level.'

The Capitals also benefited from Dylan Strome's career-high 82 points, making him one of seven 20-goal and 50-point scorers on the team. Ryan Leonard made his debut in the NHL after consecutive 30-goal campaigns at Boston College.

Fellow top-liner Tom Wilson also produced his first 30-goal season. Defenseman John Carlson and goalie Logan Thompson return in back.

'Whether you get drafted here, whether you sign here, get traded here, or you just come in the locker room, I think everybody expects to win,' Carlson said. 'And there's more to it than that, but I think just the mentality of winning is important, and I hope that I would play some part in that.'

Only former Florida Panthers forward Justin Sourdif and ex-Minnesota Wild defenseman Declan Chisholm are new to the fold in Washington.

On Boston's side, it's a fresh start in many ways after tying for an Eastern Conference-low 76 points last season.

It starts with first-year coach Marco Sturm. The former Bruins forward took over for Joe Sacco, who was the interim replacement when now-St. Louis Blues boss Jim Montgomery was fired last November.

'My players, my staff, everyone was pulling together. That shows me that we are on the right track. Everyone's really excited,' Sturm said. 'I think (Tuesday) was one of our best practices to date.'

Boston returns star David Pastrnak, aiming for his fourth straight 100-point season, but will play without either Patrice Bergeron or Brad Marchand in a season opener for the first time since 2002-03 after the latter was traded to Florida in March.

Otherwise, the forward group is revamped. Old friend Sean Kuraly returned from the Columbus Blue Jackets in free agency. Michael Eyssimont (Seattle Kraken) and Tanner Jeannot (Los Angeles Kings) also arrived, hoping to add more grit to the lineup.

The Bruins have both Charlie McAvoy and Hampus Lindholm healthy on defense after the duo missed 97 combined man-games last season due to injuries. Lindholm (knee) played just 17.

The quality of training camp was also a topic of discussion. After goalie Jeremy Swayman's holdout caused distraction during a poor preseason last year, defenseman Nikita Zadorov was impressed with how things went this time.

'In my 13-year career, probably one of the best camps I've seen,' he said. 'I thought guys were sharp, I think everybody worked their butts off. ... It was direct, it was quick. It was really exciting. Like fresh air for us.'

But now, it's for real.

--Field Level Media